Golf club cleaning pads attachable to shoes

ABSTRACT

An apparatus is provided comprising first and second pads each having a cleaning portion. The apparatus includes a means for attaching the first and second pads to a shoe. The first and second pads are configured so that a golf club head can be cleaned with the cleaning portions of the first and the second pads, while the first and the second pads are attached to the shoe. A connecting portion may connect the first pad and the second pad. First and second straps may be connected to the first and second pads, wherein the first and second straps may have first and second attachment devices located on them.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to improved methods and apparatus concerning golfrelated devices, and more particularly devices for cleaning golf clubs.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Golfers often need to clean their golf clubs, and most especially theclub face of the club head of a golf club. One example of this occurredduring a live TV broadcast of a professional golf tournament. Perhapsthe world's greatest golfer, Tiger Woods, was on the fairway gettingready to hit a golf ball with a golf club. He took a pre-swing stancethen made a check swing. He saw some dirt or grass on the club face ofthe club head of his golf club. Instead of going to his caddy to cleanthe club face and/or the club head of the golf club, he remained in hisstance and rubbed the club face onto the lower front portion of thecloth of his right pants leg. With the club face and/or club headcleaned, he then proceeded to strike the golf ball by swinging the golfclub and thereby hitting the golf ball with the club face of the golfclub. As shown by this example, there is a need for cleaning the clubface and/or club head when a golfer is in his or her swing stance orwhen he or she is closely located to where they would approach oraddress the golf ball to swing at it.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus comprisinga first pad having a cleaning portion, and means for attaching the firstpad to a shoe. The first pad is configured so that a golf club head canbe cleaned with the cleaning portion of the first pad, while the firstpad is attached to the shoe. The apparatus may include a second padhaving a cleaning portion and a means for attaching the second pad tothe shoe. The second pad may be configured so that a golf club head canbe cleaned with the cleaning portion of the second pad, while the secondpad is attached to the shoe.

A connecting portion may connect the first pad and the second pad. Afirst strap may be connected to the first pad, wherein the first straphas a first attachment device located on it. The first attachment devicemay include a plurality of connecting hooks or loops. A second strap maybe connected to the second pad, wherein the second strap has a secondattachment device located on it. The second attachment device mayinclude a plurality of connecting hooks or loops.

Each of the first and second pads may include a backing portion and thecleaning portions of the first and second pads may be mounted to theirrespective backing portion.

One embodiment of the present invention includes a method comprisingattaching an apparatus to a shoe, wherein the apparatus may be aspreviously described having first and/or second pads as previouslydescribed. The method may include cleaning a golf club head of a golfclub using the first and/or second pads of the apparatus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a simplified illustration of a front perspective view of anapparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a simplified illustration of a rear perspective view of theapparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top view of a shoe with the apparatus of FIG. 1 attached;

FIG. 4 is a right side outer view of the shoe of FIG. 3 with theapparatus of FIG. 1 attached;

FIG. 5 is a left side outer view of the shoe of FIG. 3 with theapparatus of FIG. 1 attached; and

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a cleaning pad of the apparatus ofFIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS AND BEST MODES OF EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 is a simplified illustration of a front perspective view of anapparatus 100 accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 2 is a simplified illustration of a rear perspective view of theapparatus 100.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the apparatus 100 includes a pad 102, a pad112, a connecting portion 108, and straps 120 and 130. The pad 102includes a cleaning portion 104 and a mounting member or backing portion106. The cleaning portion 104 has a surface 104 a and the backingportion 106 has a surface 106 a. The pad 112 includes a cleaning portion114 and a mounting member or backing portion 116. The cleaning portion114 has a surface 114 a and the backing portion 116 has a surface 116 a.

Each of the cleaning portions 104 and 114 may be comprised of a fabricso that each of the surfaces 104 a and 114 a, has a coarse, soft andresilient surface such as brush like or foam like surfaces. In thisembodiment, the cleaning portions 104 and 114 may have a plurality ofprotruding straight, or curly, or looping bristles 103 and 113,respectively. The cleaning portion 104 may have a different number ofbristles for bristles 103 or a different density of bristles compared tothe number of bristles for bristles 113. The bristles 103 may have auniform stiffness or rigidity and the bristles 113 may have a uniformstiffness or rigidity. The stiffness or rigidity of bristles 103 maydiffer from the stiffness or rigidity of bristles 113.

The fabric or cleaning portions 102 and 112 may be mounted onto mountingmembers or backing portions 106 and 116, respectively by for examplebeing sewn onto the backing portions 106 and 116.

The strap 120 may include portion 122 and portion 124. The portions 122and 124 have surfaces 122 a and 124 a, respectively. Similarly the strap130 may include portion 132 and portion 134. The portions 132 and 134have surfaces 132 a and 134 a. The portions 122 and 134 may have Velcro(trademarked) minute hooks and loops.

FIG. 3 is a top view of a shoe 200 with the apparatus 100 of FIG. 1attached. FIG. 4 is a right side outer view of the shoe 200 with theapparatus 100 attached. FIG. 5 is a left side outer view of the shoe 200of FIG. 3 with the apparatus 100 of FIG. 1 attached.

As shown by FIGS. 3-5, the apparatus 100 is attached to the shoe 200 sothat the connecting portion 108 is underneath the bottom or sole 202 ofthe shoe 200 substantially centrally between the heel and the toe of theshoe 200. The apparatus 100 is wrapped around the shoe 200 and theportion 134 of the strap 130 is placed on top of the portion 122 of thestrap 120. The portion 134 may be Velcro (trademarked) such as hooks orloops, and the portion 122 may be a mating or connecting portion ofVelcro (trademarked) such as hooks or loops. The portion 134 thusattaches to the portion 122 on top of the shoe 200 as shown in FIG. 3.With the apparatus 100 secured as shown in FIGS. 3-5, it can be used bya golfer.

Another embodiment may be that the fabric or cleaning portions 102 and112 may be directly sewn or mounted onto the upper of the shoe 200 inthe position shown by FIG. 3-5. In this embodiment, mounting member 120,130, 108, 106 116 may be not needed.

As an another alternative embodiment, straps of Velcro (trademarked)minute loops (or other attaching device) may be sewn or mounted onto theupper of the shoe 200 at the location where cleaning portion 102 and 112located, shown in FIG. 3-5. With the mating Velcro (trademarked) minutehooks (or other attaching device) on the surfaces of the backingportions 106 and 116. The fabric or cleaning portions 102 and 112 may beattached to the upper of the shoe, such as shoe 200 as shown in FIGS.3-5. And the fabric or cleaning portions 102 and 112 may be detachableafter use. In this embodiment, the portions 120, 130, 108 may be notneeded.

In operation, after the apparatus 100 has been attached to a shoe, suchas 200, as shown in FIGS. 3-5, a golfer can then wipe a club face and/ora club head of a golf club on the cleaning portions 104 and 114 to cleanthe club face and/or club head of the golf club.

An apparatus 100 can be attached to one shoe of a golfer, while a secondidentical apparatus can be attached to the other shoe of the golfer. Fora right-handed golfer, holding a golf club in his right hand, the golfercan rub a club face of the golf club onto the cleaning pad, such as oneor portions 112 or 114 on the inner side on the right shoe, or onto thecleaning pad, such as one of identical portions 112 or 114 on the outerside on the left shoe. A left-handed golfer typically would use cleaningportions on the inner side of the left shoe and the outer side on theright shoe. However, any use by any golfer of any of the portions 104and 114 of either shoe, can be done in accordance with embodiments ofthe present invention.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the pad 102. The pad 102 shownincludes cleaning portion 104, and backing or mounting portion 106. Thecleaning portion 104 includes a plurality of protruding straight, orcurly, or looping bristles 103 which are shown in FIG. 6.

Although the invention has been described by reference to particularillustrative embodiments thereof, many changes and modifications of theinvention may become apparent to those skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is thereforeintended to include within this patent all such changes andmodifications as may reasonably and properly be included within thescope of the present invention's contribution to the art.

1. An apparatus comprising: a first pad having a cleaning portion; meansfor attaching the first pad to a shoe; and wherein the first pad isconfigured so that a golf club head can be cleaned with the cleaningportion of the first pad, while the first pad is attached to the shoe.2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a second pad having acleaning portion; means for attaching the second pad to the shoe; andwherein the second pad is configured so that a golf club head can becleaned with the cleaning portion of the second pad.
 3. The apparatus ofclaim 2 further comprising a connecting portion which is connected tothe first pad and the second pad.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3 furthercomprising a first strap connected to the first pad, wherein the firststrap has a first attachment device located on it.
 5. The apparatus ofclaim 4 wherein the first attachment device includes a plurality ofconnecting hooks or loops.
 6. The apparatus of claim 4 furthercomprising a second strap connected to the second pad, wherein thesecond strap has a second attachment device located on it.
 7. Theapparatus of claim 6 wherein the first attachment device includes aplurality of connecting hooks or loops; and the second attachment deviceincludes a plurality of connecting hooks or loops or the mating deviceof the first attachment device.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein thefirst pad includes a backing portion and the cleaning portion of thefirst pad is mounted to the backing portion.
 9. The apparatus of claim 2wherein the first pad includes a backing portion and the cleaningportion of the first pad is mounted to the backing portion of the firstpad; and the second pad includes a backing portion and the cleaningportion of the second pad is mounted to the backing portion of thesecond pad.
 10. A method comprising attaching an apparatus to a shoe;wherein the apparatus is comprised of a first pad having a cleaningportion; means for attaching the first pad to the shoe; and wherein thefirst pad is configured so that a golf club head can be cleaned with thecleaning portion
 11. The method of claim 10 further comprising cleaninga golf club head of a golf club using the first pad of the apparatus.12. The method of claim 10 wherein the apparatus is further comprised ofa second pad having a cleaning portion; means for attaching the secondpad to the shoe; and wherein the second pad is configured so that a golfclub head can be cleaned with the cleaning portion of the second pad,while the apparatus is attached to the shoe.
 13. The method of claim 12wherein the apparatus is further comprised of a connecting portion whichis connected to the first pad and the second pad.
 14. The method ofclaim 13 wherein the apparatus is further comprised of a first strapconnected to the first pad, wherein the first strap has a firstattachment device located on it.
 15. The method of claim 14 wherein thefirst attachment device includes a plurality of connecting hooks orloops.
 16. The method of claim 14 wherein the apparatus is furthercomprised of a second strap connected to the second pad, wherein thesecond strap has a second attachment device located on it.
 17. Themethod of claim 16 wherein the first attachment device includes aplurality of connecting hooks or loops; and the second attachment deviceincludes a plurality of connecting hooks or loops or the mating deviceof the first attachment device.
 18. The method of claim 10 wherein thefirst pad includes a backing portion and the cleaning portion of thefirst pad is mounted to the backing portion.
 19. The method of claim 12wherein the first pad includes a backing portion and the cleaningportion of the first pad is mounted to the backing portion of the firstpad; and the second pad includes a backing portion and the cleaningportion of the second pad is mounted to the backing portion of thesecond pad.